Arch-centering.



I H. H. FRIOK;

ARCH (ENTERING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1910.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Attorneys,

Witnesss 'Mflbm,

HENRY I-I. ERICK, 0F FRICKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARGH-CENTERING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1910.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Serial No. 582,041.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. FRIcK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fricks, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and use ful Arch-Centering, of which the followingis a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a support for masonry andconcrete arches, during the construction of the same, the support beingso constituted that its contour may be altered, at will, thereby topermit a single arch support to be employed in the construction ofarches of different contours.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means forassembling the constituent elements of the support, and to provide novelmeans for connecting the parts of the support to alter the contour ofthe suport.

p In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental side elevation; Fig. 2 is afragmental top plan; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the skewback; Fig. 4 isa perspective of one of the lowermost voussoirs; Fig. 5 is a perspectiveof one of the keystone plates; Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of theupper voussoir-s; Fig. 7 is a perspective showing a modified form ofupper voussoirs; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing a modified formof assembling the parts.

In the drawings, the skewbacks are denoted generally by the numeral 1.These skewbacks comprise a base 2 and spaced, upstanding wings 3, formedintegrally with the base 2 of the skewback. In the base 2, between thewings 3, is a concaved seat 4, adapted to receive the rounded lower end5 of the lowermost voussoir 6. The thrust of the lower voussoir 6against the skewback 1, is received in the seat 4 of the skewback. Inthe lower voussoir 6 are a plurality of openings 8, duplicatedtransversely of the voussoir, and each of these openings 8 is adapted tobe brought into alinement, successively, with each of a series ofopenings 7 in the wings 3 of the skewback. When one of the openings 7 inthe wings 3 is alined with one of the openings 8 in the lowervoussoir'6, a securing pin 9 may be thrust into the openings which arethus alined. From the foregoing it will be seen that the angle betweenthe lower voussoir 6 and the base 2 of the skewback 1 may be altered,the relative positions between the lower voussoir 6 and the skewbackbeing maintained by means of the securing pin 9. The lower voussoir 6 isshouldered, as shown at 10, to receive the ends of the wings 3 of theskewback. The opposite end of the lower voussoir 6, denoted by thenumeral 11, is inclined at an angle to the body of the voussoir. Thisconstruction is most clearly seen in Fig. 4. Intermediate the ends ofthe lower voussoir 6 is an opening 12. Adjacent the extremity of theportion 11 of the lower voussoir 6 are two series of openings,duplicated transversely of the voussoir, and denoted respectively by thenumerals 14 and 13.

The upper voussoir is denoted by the numeral 15, the voussoir 15 beingchambered in its lower face, and provided at one end 7 with spaced wings16, between which the end 11 of the lower voussoir 6 may be inserted. Inthe wings 16 there are openings 17 adapted to be alined with the opening12 in the lower voussoir 6. Through the openings 12 and 17, a securingpin 18 may be inserted, to provide a pivotal union between the voussoirs6 and 15. The voussoir 6 is, as denoted by the numeral 22, shouldered toreceive the ends of the wings 16 of the voussoir 15. In the wings 16there are openings 19 and 20, the openings 19 and 20 being duplicatedtransversely of the voussoir. Each of the openings 19 is adapted to bealined with each of the openings 14 in the end 11 of the lower voussoir6. Each of the opencessive openings, the angle between the uppervoussoir l5 and the lower voussoir 6 may be changed. The end 23 of theupper voussoir 15 is inclined at an angle to the body of the voussoir,as seen clearly in Fig. 6. In this end 23 there are openings 24 and 25,these openings 24 and 25 being duplicated transversely of the voussoir.In the intermediate portion of the upper voussoir 15 there is an opening26.

The keystone of the structure comprises a pair of plates, one of whichis shown in Fig. 5. The plates, which are denoted by the numeral 27, areadapted to be applied to opposite sides of the ends 23 of the uppervoussoir 15, the upper voussoir 15 being shouldered, as shown at 28 toreceive the ends of the keystone plates 27. In the ends of the keystoneplates there are openings 33. These openings 33 are adapted to bebrought into alineinent with the openings 26 in the upper voussoirs 15.Through the openings 26 and 33, securing pins 29 may be inserted, sothat the upper voussoirs-lb' are pivotally connected to the keystone,the ends 23 of the voussoirs 15 extendingtoward each other between thekeystone plates 27. In the keystone plates 27 there are a plurality ofopenings 31 and 32. Each of the openings 32 is adapted to be broughtinto alinement' with each ofthe openings 25 in the ends23*of thevoussoirs =15; andea'ch of the openings 31 is adapted-to be broughtsuccessively'into alinement" withthe openin'gs 241 Through the openingswhich are,

thus'alined, retaining pins 32 may be inserted, and thus the anglesbetween the upper voussoirs 15 and the keystone may be adjusted.

If desired; the upper voussoirs 15' may be modified as denoted by the"numeral 34 in Fig. 7. In such instance, referring to Fig. 7, the ends35' ofthe voussoirs may be disposed in alinement with the body of thevoussoir. By substituting the modified voussoir 34 for the voussoir 15,the contour of the supporting structure may be changed, as shown in Fig.8, to serve as a hoopfor encirclingsilos, water tanks and othercylindrica-l structures which are usually built upright;

It'will be seen that by successively'mounting the securing'pins in theseveral openings, the contour of the-structure may be changed at will,this contour being susceptible'of further alternation, by thesubstitution of the voussoir 34- for the voussoir-15.

The device is so constructed thatia single structure may be employed forfashioning arches of differentcontours, and permitting a singlestructure to be employed in arches of different spans, andof differentrises.

Having thus described the invention whatisclaimed is-:

1-. An arch support comprising overlapped members, one ofwhich ispivoted intermediate itsends to the next adjoining member; means formaintaining the overlapped end of the first named member inpredetermined positions transversely of the second named member.

2. An arch support comprising overintermediate its ends to the nextadjoining member; the over-lapped end of the first named member and thesecond named memher being provided with alining openings, the openingsin one of said members being duplicated transversely of said member forsuccessive ahnement with the openings in the other member; andasecuringdevice insertible into the openings.

3. An arch support'consis'ting of a'member' provided with spacedwings; amember pivoted intermediate its ends between the wings; therebeingalined' openings in the last member andinthe wings, duplicatedtransversely of the support; and a securing device insertible into theopenings.

4. An. arch support consistingof spaced members; a keystone terminallypivoted to the intermediate portions of said members; :and" means for.securing the adjacent ends 50f themembers to the keystone in successive.ipositions transversely of the. keystone.

l 5. An arch support consisting of spaced members; a keystone consistingof plates iapplied to the opposite sides ofsaid mem- Ebers and pivotallyconnected with the injtermediate portions of said members; there lbeingopenings inthe' adjacent ends of said members, and in the keystoneplates, ceri tain of which openings are duplicated, itransversely of thekeystone; and-securing idevi'ces insertib'le into the openings:

' 6. In an arch support, a voussoir; a skewback against which thevoussoir terminally abuts, the skewback having spaced-wings .betweenwhich the voussoiris located; and means for securingthe voussoir to theskewback, in successive positions, transversely of the skewback.

7 In an arch support, a skewback having spaced wings, and a concaveseatlocated between the wings'; a voussoir having a rounded end to restin the seat; there being alined openings in the voussoir and the wings,certain of which openings are duplicated transversely of the support;and a-securing device-insertible into the openings,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. FRICK.

Witnesses:

ROBERT S. FRIoK, WV. S. BERGEY.

Copies-of this-patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, 7

Washington, D. G.

